Hospital employees, healthcare staff, and those in clinics, laboratories, and urgent care facilities have long been aware of anti-microbial badge accessories. In today's global pandemic environment, if you have essential employees who need to display their ID badges, consider getting customized anti-microbial accessories like a special polyester lanyard that prevents the growth of germs.
The Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care published a report titled, "Can identification badges be vectors of infection?" in which 200 healthcare workers' badges were swabbed for cultures. The report states, "37% were contaminated with pathogens. Contamination was highest in physicians (45% compared to 14–32% in other healthcare workers)."
While you expect some badge contamination of medical staff at the forefront of the pandemic response, what about essential non-healthcare employees who work closely with the public as well? The pandemic has unearthed a new set of essential workers beyond healthcare, fire, and police. As an employer, you want to protect them from contamination as much as possible.
Regardless of your industry, your customer facing staff meet with the public routinely in their jobs. You can offer them ID cards and badge accessories with state-of-the-art anti-microbial properties as a start. Made of a specific polyester material that contains nanoparticles, special lanyards prevent the growth of germs and kill odor-causing bacteria. In addition, you can sanitize your ID cards and badges for frequent use.
How to clean ID badges, holders, and cards
Always wash your hands before and after cleaning your ID cards, badges, and holders.
- Remove your ID card or badge from its holder.
- Use a lint-free towel or paper towel.
- Add rubbing alcohol, disinfectant solution, any household cleaner, or soap and water to the towel.
- Carefully rub both the card/badge and the holder with the towel. If you're using soap and water, rub for 20 seconds, then rinse.
- Dry with a clean towel or let air dry.
ID badges and cards are fairly durable and will withstand most cleaning products. Be careful with clean, however, as it may remove some of the printed content.
You can also use antibacterial wipes instead of a towel or paper towel. Make sure to clean ID cards, badges, and holders after every shift.
Options to keep staff and others safe
As a response to COVID-19, most companies screen staff frequently to ensure they're symptom free. You may even screen visitors or customers with thermal temperature screening terminals before allowing them entrance to your facilities. You need a way to designate who's been screened and who hasn't.
Expiring paper badges are the perfect solution. These badges expire after a certain amount of time, after which the word "VOID" appears or the sticker changes color. Choose a sticker that expires within 24 hours, and simply print "SCREENED" on the front.
These badges let you identify who's been screened to allow them inside your business. They can't be reused because of the chemical reaction that takes place and changes the wording or the color. It's an easy, economical way to show who's valid today and void tomorrow.
Another option is expiring dot sets that you add to your current ID badges that show they've been screened that day. "VOID" appears on these dots at the end of a shift, letting everyone know the badge holder's status.
Particularly important for those on the frontline during this pandemic, these expiring screened stickers and dots are easy to identify and give everyone peace of mind seeing that individuals have been screened that day.
Final thoughts
While first responders and healthcare workers on the frontline are most at risk during these uncertain times, essential workers are also exposed on a daily basis. Protect them as best you can with a wide variety of ID cards, badges, and badge accessory solutions that fit with any budget. From anti-bacterial lanyards to self-expiring "Screened" stickers, give your employees, staff, customers, and other peace of mind knowing they're not being unnecessarily exposed.
What Idesco is doing
Idesco has a full line of ID cards, badges, accessories, holders, and more to help you keep everyone safe and secure. In addition, we expanded into COVID-19 emergency response products that help you identify and communicate effectively. We offer temperature screening terminals, face shields, and a variety of other products to help you identify individuals and label your environment appropriately. For a complete list, visit Idesco or check out our Healthcare Catalog.
Our ID Experts are available at 800-336-1383 to discuss your needs and help you devise an identification solution that takes into consideration the health and welfare of all. Contact us today.